Aircraft ventilation system

Abstract

An air distribution system for use in an aircraft includes a main distribution duct configured to receive mixed air and a gasper distribution duct coupled in flow communication with the main distribution duct. The gasper distribution duct is configured to receive a portion of the mixed air from the main distribution duct. The system also includes a plurality of gasper outlets in flow communication with the gasper distribution duct. The plurality of gasper outlets includes a subset of gasper outlets located within a same region of the aircraft. The system also includes a heater in flow communication between the gasper distribution duct and the subset of gasper outlets. The heater is configured to heat the mixed air flowing from the gasper distribution duct to the subset of gasper outlets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air distribution system for an aircraft, the air distribution system comprising:
 a main distribution duct configured to receive mixed air and channel a first portion of the mixed air to one or more passenger cabins of the aircraft;   a gasper distribution duct in fluid communication with the main distribution duct, wherein the gasper distribution duct receives a second portion of the mixed air from the main distribution duct;   a subset supply duct in fluid communication with the gasper distribution duct, wherein the subset supply duct receives at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air from the gasper distribution duct;   a heater disposed in the subset supply duct, wherein the heater is configured to heat the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air; and   a first plurality of gasper outlets in fluid communication with the subset supply duct, wherein the first plurality of gasper outlets are within one or more galleys or one or more crew rest areas of the aircraft, and wherein the first plurality of gasper outlets are configured to receive the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air that is heated by the heater.   
     
     
         2 . The air distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one air pack configured to draw outside air from outside the aircraft into the air distribution system;   a recirculation system configured to draw recirculated air from pressurized areas of the aircraft into the air distribution system; and   a mix manifold in fluid communication with the at least one air pack, the recirculation system, and the main distribution duct, wherein the mix manifold is configured to mix the outside air from the at least one air pack with the recirculated air from the recirculation system to form the mixed air, and provide the mixed air to the main distribution duct.   
     
     
         3 . The air distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressurized areas of the aircraft comprise the one or more passenger cabins, the one or more galleys, the one or more crew rest areas, and a cockpit area. 
     
     
         4 . The air distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein trim air from one or more engines of the aircraft is injected into the mixed air. 
     
     
         5 . The air distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of gasper outlets in fluid communication with the gasper distribution duct upstream from the heater, wherein each of the second plurality of gasper outlets is associated within an individual seat within the one or more passenger cabins. 
     
     
         6 . The air distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising a subset manifold in fluid communication with the subset supply duct and the first plurality of gasper outlets. 
     
     
         7 . The air distribution system of  claim 6 , wherein the gasper distribution duct, the subset supply duct, the heater, the subset manifold, and the first plurality of gasper outlets are in serial flow arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The air distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control system that is configured to control a temperature of the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air. 
     
     
         9 . The air distribution system of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature control system comprises:
 a controller operatively coupled to the heater, wherein the controller is configured to control the heater;   a compartment temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the compartment temperature sensor is disposed within the one or more galley areas or the one or more crew rest areas and is configured to sense a first temperature within the one or more galley areas or the one or more crew rest areas; and   a duct temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the duct temperature sensor is disposed within the subset supply duct downstream from the heater, and wherein the duct temperature sensor is configured to sense a second temperature within the subset supply duct.   
     
     
         10 . An air distribution method for an aircraft, the air distribution method comprising:
 receiving mixed air at a main distribution duct;   channeling a first portion of the mixed air through the main distribution duct to one or more passenger cabins of the aircraft;   receiving, by a gasper distribution duct in fluid communication with the main distribution duct, a second portion of the mixed air from the main distribution duct;   receiving, by a subset supply duct in fluid communication with the gasper distribution duct, at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air from the gasper distribution duct;   heating, by a heater disposed in the subset supply duct, the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air;   receiving, by a first plurality of gasper outlets within one or more galleys or one or more crew rest areas of the aircraft, the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air that is heated by the heater.   
     
     
         11 . The air distribution method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 drawing, by at least one air pack, outside air from outside the aircraft into the air distribution system;   drawing, by a recirculation system, recirculated air from pressurized areas of the aircraft into the air distribution system;   mixing, by a mix manifold in fluid communication with the at least one air pack, the recirculation system, and the main distribution duct, the outside air from the at least one air pack with the recirculated air from the recirculation system to form the mixed air; and   providing, from the mix manifold, the mixed air to the main distribution duct.   
     
     
         12 . The air distribution method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressurized areas of the aircraft comprise the one or more passenger cabins, the one or more galleys, the one or more crew rest areas, and a cockpit area. 
     
     
         13 . The air distribution method of  claim 10 , further comprising injecting trim air from one or more engines of the aircraft into the mixed air. 
     
     
         14 . The air distribution method of  claim 10 , further comprising fluidly coupling a second plurality of gasper outlets with the gasper distribution duct upstream from the heater, wherein each of the second plurality of gasper outlets is associated within an individual seat within the one or more passenger cabins. 
     
     
         15 . The air distribution method of  claim 10 , further comprising fluidly coupling a subset manifold with the subset supply duct and the first plurality of gasper outlets. 
     
     
         16 . The air distribution method of  claim 15 , further comprising arranging the gasper distribution duct, the subset supply duct, the heater, the subset manifold, and the first plurality of gasper outlets in serial flow. 
     
     
         17 . The air distribution method of  claim 10 , further comprising controlling, by a temperature control system, a temperature of the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air. 
     
     
         18 . The air distribution method of  claim 17 , wherein said controlling comprises:
 controlling the heater by a controller operatively coupled the heater;   disposing a compartment temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller within the one or more galley areas or the one or more crew rest areas;   sensing, by the compartment temperature sensor, a first temperature within the one or more galley areas or the one or more crew rest areas;   disposing a duct temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller within the subset supply duct downstream from the heater; and   sensing, by the duct temperature sensor, a second temperature within the subset supply duct.   
     
     
         19 . An air distribution system for an aircraft, the air distribution system comprising:
 a main distribution duct configured to receive mixed air and channel a first portion of the mixed air to one or more passenger cabins of the aircraft;   a gasper distribution duct in fluid communication with the main distribution duct, wherein the gasper distribution duct receives a second portion of the mixed air from the main distribution duct;   a subset supply duct in fluid communication with the gasper distribution duct, wherein the subset supply duct receives at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air from the gasper distribution duct;   a heater disposed in the subset supply duct, wherein the heater is configured to heat the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air;   a first plurality of gasper outlets in fluid communication with the subset supply duct, wherein the first plurality of gasper outlets are within one or more galleys or one or more crew rest areas of the aircraft, and wherein the first plurality of gasper outlets are configured to receive the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air that is heated by the heater;   a subset manifold in fluid communication with the subset supply duct and the first plurality of gasper outlets, wherein the gasper distribution duct, the subset supply duct, the heater, the subset manifold, and the first plurality of gasper outlets are in serial flow arrangement;   a second plurality of gasper outlets in fluid communication with the gasper distribution duct upstream from the heater, wherein each of the second plurality of gasper outlets is associated within an individual seat within the one or more passenger cabins; and   a temperature control system that is configured to control a temperature of the at least a portion of the second portion of the mixed air, wherein the temperature control system comprises:
 a controller operatively coupled to the heater, wherein the controller is configured to control the heater; 
 a compartment temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the compartment temperature sensor is disposed within the one or more galley areas or the one or more crew rest areas and is configured to sense a first temperature within the one or more galley areas or the one or more crew rest areas; and 
 a duct temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the duct temperature sensor is disposed within the subset supply duct downstream from the heater, and wherein the duct temperature sensor is configured to sense a second temperature within the subset supply duct. 
   
     
     
         20 . The air distribution system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one air pack configured to draw outside air from outside the aircraft into the air distribution system;   a recirculation system configured to draw recirculated air from pressurized areas of the aircraft into the air distribution system; and   a mix manifold in fluid communication with the at least one air pack, the recirculation system, and the main distribution duct, wherein the mix manifold is configured to mix the outside air from the at least one air pack with the recirculated air from the recirculation system to form the mixed air, and provide the mixed air to the main distribution duct,   wherein the pressurized areas of the aircraft comprise the one or more passenger cabins, the one or more galleys, the one or more crew rest areas, and a cockpit area, and   wherein trim air from one or more engines of the aircraft is injected into the mixed air.